“Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them. Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’ When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.” – Matthew 19:13-15, NIV
These days, it’s hard to turn on the TV and see the images that are plastered all over the news. Just recently with the horrific attacks in Berlin and in Turkey, but also with the suffering that is impossible to comprehend in Syria. I feel a measurable amount of guilt and heartache that I’m only now paying attention to this crisis and realizing the magnitude of the devastation when this is something that the people of Aleppo have been enduring for years. It’s hard to see the current state of affairs in our own government and country as anything but trivial when you place them side by side with the violence and massacres in this part of the world.
The truth of the matter is that we, all of us, are God’s people and created by Him no matter where we live. Would Jesus turn his head and not be moved by what is happening in Syria? He wouldn’t, and he hasn’t. I hope you join in prayer for the people of Aleppo and if you feel led, give to organizations that are working to support and help the people there. Here is a helpful article that shares some ways to help, if you feel led. This Christmas season, at its core, is a time of reflection and celebration of the birth of King who came to redeem us all. He came to draw near to us and to save us all from our transgressions by taking our place on the cross, dying the death that was meant for us. It’s a poignant reminder, as we see these atrocities around the world, that God hurts with His children. He weeps when we weep.
